ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load. It is a crucial process in data integration that involves moving data from one or more sources, transforming it into a suitable format, and then loading it into a single destination, typically a data warehouse. This process helps organizations consolidate data from disparate systems, making it easier to access and analyze ¹².

The ETL process consists of three main steps:

1. Extract: Data is collected from various source systems, which can include databases, cloud applications, and files.
2. Transform: The extracted data is cleaned and transformed to ensure it is reliable and in a usable format. This may involve filtering, aggregating, or enriching the data.
3. Load: Finally, the transformed data is loaded into a centralized data warehouse, creating a single source of truth for the organization ²⁴.

ETL plays a vital role in enabling businesses to derive insights from their data, improve productivity, and maintain trust in their data ².